LASU POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL PROMOTES ETHICAL AI ADOPTION TO STRENGTHEN RESEARCH INTEGRITY‎

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎The Lagos State University Postgraduate School has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering ethical scholarship and research excellence through a webinar designed to equip postgraduate students, researchers and academics with the knowledge and practical skills required for the responsible application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research.‎‎

The one-day webinar, held virtually on Zoom on Thursday, 30th July 2026, featured presentations on the ethical, responsible and effective use of AI in postgraduate research. The event brought together members of the University community and other participants to examine the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities associated with the increasing adoption of AI in academic research.‎‎

Declaring the webinar open, the Dean, LASU Postgraduate School, Professor Ibrahim *OLATEJU*, stated that the initiative was part of the Postgraduate School’s commitment to ensuring that LASU remains at the forefront of global developments in postgraduate education and research. He noted that the School would continue to expose its students and researchers to contemporary issues shaping academia, while promoting innovation anchored in ethical standards and academic excellence.

‎‎The first presentation, delivered by Professor Moses *AKANBI*, Editor of the LASU Postgraduate School Journal, focused on *”Preserving Research Integrity and Credibility in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”* He emphasised that the debate has shifted from whether researchers should use AI to how it should be deployed responsibly without compromising academic integrity.

‎‎Professor *AKANBI* described AI as a valuable research assistant capable of supporting literature searches, writing, coding, translation, statistical analysis, reference management and data visualisation. However, he stressed that AI should complement rather than replace human intelligence, originality and critical thinking. According to him, researchers must remain accountable for every aspect of their work, as AI lacks conscience, ethics and responsibility.

‎‎He further distinguished between the ethical use, misuse and abuse of AI, warning against excessive dependence on AI-generated content, fabricated references, fake datasets, ghost-written dissertations and other forms of academic misconduct. He described the undisclosed use of machine-generated content as a modern form of plagiarism and encouraged researchers to embrace transparency by disclosing AI usage where appropriate while ensuring that all facts, references and analyses are thoroughly verified.‎‎

Speaking on *”Fundamentals of Statistical Analysis in the AI Age,”* Professor Olawale Ibrahim *OLATEJU* highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in statistical analysis and research. He explained how AI-powered tools are improving data processing, analysis and interpretation, thereby enhancing research productivity and efficiency. He, however, advised participants to combine technological innovation with sound statistical knowledge, critical evaluation and professional judgement to ensure that research findings remain accurate, reliable and credible.

‎‎The moderator of the webinar, Dr Ganiu *BAMGBOSE*, also delivered a presentation titled *”When AI Writes and Humans Think: Ethical Boundaries in Postgraduate Research in the Humanities.”* He examined the ethical implications of AI-generated content in humanities research, emphasising the importance of preserving intellectual originality, critical thinking and the unique academic voice of researchers. He urged postgraduate students and scholars to regard Artificial Intelligence as a complementary research tool rather than a substitute for independent scholarship, and to maintain transparency, accountability, and adherence to established ethical standards.

‎‎Throughout the webinar, participants were encouraged to embrace AI responsibly by prioritising originality, critical thinking and ethical conduct. The speakers unanimously agreed that while Artificial Intelligence offers unprecedented opportunities to improve research productivity, human judgement, integrity and accountability remain indispensable to producing credible and impactful scholarly work.‎‎

The webinar concluded with an interactive question and answer session during which participants sought further clarification on the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence in research. The session reinforced Lagos State University’s commitment to preparing postgraduate students and researchers to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape while upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, credibility and research excellence.

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